Wirt County freshman Braylan Dawson, who had 10 of his game-high 18 points in the third quarter, records one of his game-high six steals as Roane County’s Cobun Cottrell looks on during the Tigers’ 57-39 Class AA, Region IV, Section 2 triumph Wednesday night. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

ELIZABETH — Freshman Braylan Dawson scored 10 of his game-high 18 points during a pivotal 14-1 run in the third quarter here Wednesday night to help host Wirt County to a 57-39 victory versus Roane County in a Class AA, Region IV, Section 2 affair.

The 16-7 Tigers of head man Chase Mills, who also received 16 counters from DeShawn Middleton and 11 markers from Connor Hoover, visit top-seeded Ravenswood at 7 p.m. Friday.

During a low scoring first half, the Tigers dented the scoreboard first when Middleton got a putback 2:43 in. The orange and black led 8-4 after one, but the Raiders were able to make it 15-all at intermission thanks in part Cam Cumpston draining three of his five 3s in the second as he paced the visitors with 17 points.

Things were looking good for RCHS boss Matt Brohard’s club when Cumpston hit from deep early in the third and Nick Taylor followed with a triple via a Shay Harper dime for a 21-19 advantage at the 4:53 mark.

However, Middleton had a lay-in and then Zay Fasogbon tossed an alley-oop to Hoover that he kissed in.

Although a Shaun Caldwell charity stripe toss cut it to one at 23-22, Dawson had a steal in the backcourt and converted a three-point play. He then knocked down a 3 and scored on a floater from a Hoover assist before capping the 14-1 spurt with another steal and lay-in.

“That’s when we started taking over the game and Dawson did a lot of that on his own,” said coach Mills.

An Ian Lance baseline jumper cut the deficit to nine at 33-24, but Aiden Cheuvront made 1 of 2 from the line following a technical foul and Fasogbon closed the quarter with a deuce for a 36-24 edge entering the fourth.

“I thought we did a really good job packing it in for the most part and doing a great job on their bigs,” added coach Mills. “Connor Hoover plays the middle for us and he just did an outstanding job. He played great defense and it made it hard for them.

“They had to rely on shooting the ball outside and that hasn’t been their M.O. Cumpston did hit some shots, but overall we were wanting them to take a lot of outside shots as opposed to shots in the paint.”

Cumpston opened the fourth with his fifth and final trifecta. Five straight points from Cobun Cottrell, which included a 3, sliced the deficit back to single digits at 41-32 with 4:46 remaining.

Greyson Keen, who had a team-high seven rebounds and joined Tiger Braden Whipkey with a blocked shot apiece, scored inside with 2:20 to play, but the Raiders still trailed 49-38.

The Tigers, who made just 13 of 23 from the free-throw line, watched senior Brandon Richards can all six of his attempts down the stretch.

Richards finished with a game-high nine rebounds.

“No easy task,” coach Mills replied when asked about going to The Pit on Friday and trying to slow down Matthew Carte. “Not many people have been able to do that. He’s the player in our league that really no one has slowed down. We’re probably going to have to use multiple guys on him. At the same time, I think our guys will be ready to play and I don’t think they will be intimidated.”

Cumpston pulled down five rebounds and Harper tied Middleton for game-high assist honors with four apiece. Middleton also grabbed six caroms and joined Hoover with a trio of steals.

Wirt County, which shot 51.2% (21 of 41) from the floor, held the Raiders to 30.6% (15 of 49). Roane County hit 3 of 10 from deep in the first half, but went 4 of 18 from beyon the arc after the break.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com